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<br />COpy <br />---- <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br /> <br />'.PRESS RELEASE ISSUED JOINTLY BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF <br />THE INTERIOR - FRIDAY. DECEMBER 29. J.96J. <br /> <br />';".) <br />(~ <br />O?.. <br />'~.." - ..1. <br />,""",*,' <br /> <br />Mexico Scheduling additional Colorado River water to alleviate salinity. <br /> <br />Agreement has been reached with Mexico that it will without increasing <br />its total annual allotment, schedule J.arger than nornuiJ. deliveries of <br />Colorado River water in January and February J.962 as a means of reducing <br />the salinity of the water currently being delivered to farms in the <br />Mexicali Vall~, the Departments of State and Interior announced jointly <br />t~. . <br /> <br />, , <br />In so doing Mexican authorities have requested and the United States has <br />agreed that the Republic of Mexico be permitted discretion in modifying <br />the February schedule of water deliveries on shorter notice than the <br />30 d8\Y's or by more than the 20 percent that are mentioned in' the Mexican <br />Water Treaty. Other proVisions will not be affected. <br /> <br />, <br />Both Governments reserve their legal positions under the Treaty and in <br />the spirit of mutual good will and understanding which has traditionally <br />existed between the United States and Mexico will enter at once into <br />intensive discussions seeking to resolve all questions at issue and to <br />expJ.ore every possibility of removing the basic problem for the future. <br /> <br />The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water COll!l11ission <br />and the Bureau of Reclamation of the Department of the Interior have a joint <br />administrative responsibiJ.ity in operation of the river in such a manner as <br />to discharge the obligations of the Mexican Water Treaty. The arrangement <br />will in no way affect the rights of United States users of CoJ.orado River <br />water. <br /> <br />:.....::,. <br /> <br /> <br />With increased irrigation development along the Lc;lwer Colorado River and <br />with extremely low runoff on the river's watershed during the past several <br />years the flow of 'the Colorado River below Imperial Dam during this wint.er <br />gradually has become more salty. Mexico's previous schedule for~the winter <br />months Was the minimum permitted under the Treaty thereby requiring no <br />releases of stored water from upstream reservoirs for mixing and diluting <br />the low flow. . <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~ <br />